Tag Archives: Favorite Things

It was a short train ride from Yasugi to Matsue where there is a castle that has stood since 1611. It is one of the few remaining original castles in Japan. It is built in watchtower style. From the outside it looks to be 5 stories tall, but has 6 floors inside.

Entering it is humbling and freeing at the same time. I felt transported to a different age. It made me feel very protected with the solidness of its large square floors. There was an art exhibit going on. It is an excellent place for that.

I left Kyoto on the bullet train for the Adachi Museum and Garden. By now I felt more at home on the trains. I doubled checked, while I waited on the platform and discovered in time, that I was waiting at the wrong platform.

The trains are beautiful and on time, clean and exciting. Look how pretty my rail pass is.

At Yasugi, I took a museum bus. The Adachi Museum is noted for it’s ceramics collection and it’s gardens are considered among the most beautiful in Japan. I can see why. When I arrived I stowed my backpack and camera in a locker. Surprise – they encourage you to take photos. Ah well, I bought a coffee table book instead.

The museum has a restaurant. I wasn’t hungry after eating a bento box on the train. They also have a tea house looking out on a garden. I had matcha there and lingered in bliss. The presentation was peaceful, simple and very moving. My tea sweet was served with a small twig. It seemed to be pine and was carved to a point. The handle still had bark on it. It put me in one of those moments of ecstasy. The Japanese aesthetic does that to me regularly.

Being an American, I wondered if this terribly tasteful toothpick was disposable. I could not bear it, if it was to be thrown away. I brought it with me as I left, and asked the hostess, IF they were going to throw it away, could I have it?

She didn’t speak English. Her eyes widened as she understood my request and a tiny gasp escaped her lips. Flooded with embarrassment, I placed the treasure down and escaped to the Museum area where no one knew my barbaric assumptions.

There was a yarn shop to tempt me. And Sou Sou, a clothing designer who modernizes traditional Japanese wear. By this time I was back to Nishiki Market. There is a knife store there that sells all types of prized Japanese knives.

For the Father in your life who has an e-reader, you can knit or crochet a cover for it. On Ravelry there are a few different patterns to choose from. One person designed a cell phone cover that looks like a pop tart!

I won’t be making one for Father’s day this year but I have saved these patterns in my favorites.

I have an abundance of circular knitting needles and am giving away two. One is US size 11 and one is US size 10 1/2.

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